Christmas caroling for better roads

GRAND RAPIDS December 9, 2014– Union members and other concerned citizens from west Michigan converged on Calder Plaza Monday morning to raise awareness for a controversial road-funding bill that just passed the Michigan House last week. The participants sang Christmas carols– with words that delivered a message about how Michigan’s roads shouldn’t be fixed on the backs of our children and communities.

The house bill, which would divert funds from schools, community services and transportation, barely passed the House, and stands in opposition to the bi-partisan senate bill, which would fund road repairs by raising gas taxes gradually over three years.

RiChard Jackson, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 836, spoke with MLive after the event on Monday.

“The Senate version is more user-friendly. It’s the lesser of two evils,” he said.

“The House version will not only cut public transit out of the (funding) formula, but it’s going to lose money (for other public services).”